Posts Tagged ‘Coal’
West Virginia Enacts Coal Tax Cut
Gov. Jim Justice signed bills dropping a tax on coal from 5 to 3 percent over the next three years and granting a 35 percent tax credit to coal companies buying new equipment for new or expanded mining operations.
Read MoreProposed Mine Causes Concern in Birmingham
A water utility and a local conservation group in Birmingham, Ala., are fighting against a proposed strip mine 5.5 miles upstream of the city’s primary drinking water intakes.
Read MoreCoalition explores innovative mine reclamation solutions in West Virginia
Members of the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition visited an abandoned mine in Mingo County, W.Va., slated to become the site of a solar-powered aquaponics agriculture facility.
Read MoreGov. Jim Justice’s Barren Mine Lands and Unpaid Taxes
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice made nearly $2 billion off Appalachia’s coalfields, but his family’s mines owe back taxes in multiple states. They have also accrued hundreds of environmental violations, and many idled mines are still unreclaimed.
Read MoreExports and Bankruptcies Mark Volatile Year for Coal
Although Central Appalachian coal production has seen a slight rebound since 2016, it may be short-lived due to export and transportation costs. Additionally, two coal companies filed for bankruptcy last fall.
Read MoreFunding for Black Lung Benefits Halved
A tax on coal companies funding benefits for former miners with black lung disease was halved at the first of the year.
Read MoreFive years after Dan River: Coal ash in N.C.
The Dan River coal ash spill sparked a flurry of coal ash cleanup legislation, public hearings, community meetings and more across North Carolina. But where does coal ash stand in the state now?
Read MoreWestmoreland Coal’s Appalachian connection
In October 2018, the oldest coal company in the United States filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While now largely operating in the western United States, Westmoreland has many ties to Southwest Virginia.
Read MoreCitizen Science in Appalachia
From monitoring the health of local waterways to tracking the changing seasons, people from all walks of life are seizing the opportunity to participate in scientific projects.
Read MoreKeeping Eyes on Coal’s Impact
Citizen scientists surveil water quality near active and former coal mines to hold companies accountable to the law.
Read More